You've probably heard the radio ads about protecting the title of your home from fraud and identity theft and wondered how to stop title fraud. Home Title Lock is one such company whose ads I’ve heard

I received an email from one of the title people that I work with. I believe this is a good alternative to paying for a service and this idea is free. Let’s give credit to Grant Alley for taking the time to notify me of this service.

Watch this video and below the video, you can visit the site to start the service. Let me know what you think. Did you find the process easy to sign up for? Meanwhile, is this type of threat real? Forbes doesn’t seem to think so. Perhaps that’s another good reason to take advantage of the free service the county of Los Angeles offers. According to an article I found from the Tampa Bay News, “…a spokesperson for the FBI told VERIFY that since the beginning of 2021, the agency has received fewer than 20 complaints, “which may be related to home title theft…”

Steve Gottheim, General Counsel for the American Land Title Association, the national trade association representing thousands of title insurance companies, said “…the dire warnings make a mountain out of a molehill…”

Weigh the risk/reward, perhaps this free tool is best…

How to stop Title Fraud

https://assessor.lacounty.gov/news-information/enotification

“…With the e-Notification service, you can register your email now to be alerted whenever a foreclosure, transfer of title, or mortgage is recorded on your property with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. This notification allows property owners a means to identify potential real estate fraud activity, such as a fraudulently recorded deed. In the future additional features like submittable forms will become available…”

Here’s the disclaimer from their website:

“Use of this document recording notification opt-in program includes, but is not limited to, the terms and conditions of this disclaimer. Only the property owner(s) currently on record with the Los Angeles County Assessor may choose to opt-in on their specific AIN (Assessor Identification Number) or parcel for receipt of email or text message notification when a document related to that AIN is recorded at the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office. The email or text message will be sent immediately following the completion of the recording transaction and will contain the AIN, document type, recording date and recorded document number. It will NOT contain the) name(s) of party(ies), address, or image of the recorded document. It will be up to the property owner to contact the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs using the contact information provided in the email or text message for information regarding the recorded transaction the property owner reasonably believes to be erroneous, irregular, or possibly fraudulent. Although we strive to be as accurate as possible in providing property owners with information under this opt-in program, Los Angeles County assumes no responsibility and in no event shall be liable to any party for any errors contained in email or text message notifications, or in any manner relating to the accuracy completeness, or timing of any email or text message notifications, transmitted under this program. Nothing in the contents of any email or text message notification transmitted under this program shall constitute legal advice or create any legal or contractual obligation on Los Angeles County. Circumstances vary case-by-case, and property owners should seek appropriate legal, financial, or other professional advice for their specific situations. Los Angeles County reserves the right to make changes to the document recording notification opt-in program without notification to participants.”